Backstage at Fashion Week: Models, heels and flashbulbs!

Image: Models seem uninhibited in revealing togs as they come fresh out of a show
Photographs: Rajesh Karkera

We bring you behind-the-scenes exclusives from Lakme Fashion Week!

If the ramp is about style, panache, attitude and oomph, backstage it's about being casual. Models who strut designerwear under the glaring eye of the media seem relaxed as buyers with blank cheque books buzz about.

Once you get past the eagle-eyed bouncers manning the backstage entrance, you are welcomed into the arms of a different world, where catwalk queens bitch about the designers and their creations on one hand and catch furtive glances of each others' off-ramp outfits on the other, making notes all the time of things that they might find useful later.

Quiz a few about their glamorous lives and they spill the beans.

"Ours is a different world. The glamour seduces you but there is a lot of hard work," says one six-foot-something leggy lass.

One can immediately connect with what she says after looking at the shoes she's wearing. Thick and tall at the toes instead of at the heels, they could sprain if not break one of those slender ankles. One small slip while walking the ramp and you would be crippled for the rest of the shows. But these girls have practiced enough and are trying to focus on the show that is to begin in 15 minutes instead of their ankles and the possible outcome of a fall.

"Well in one of these shows, I almost tripped. Had it not been for a fellow model I'd have sprained my ankle for sure," says another looker.

No doubt all of them look stunning in the beautiful creations they are about to showcase, but they are not showing that off when they talk to you. Most of them seem simple, earthy and intelligent.

Some spend their time practicing in the weird shoes while others enjoy this recess to bond with their fellow models. Giggles and stifled laughs are a given as they look at each other and whisper into the ears of friends.

Suddenly the ramp coordinator comes out of nowhere and rattles out some names that will walk for a particular sequence that is choreographed by some genius that they hardly know. Ask them to pose and they are always happy to oblige -- they don't need to know you, they'll just allow a photographer to capture their beautiful bodies and pretty pouts.

The lensmen and ladies joke around like school buddies who have met after a long time;' they hardly take any time to bond. What they need is just a couple of moments to connect. Without doubt the two players enjoy each others' company.

Even as the relationship is maturing, the coordinator comes again and shouts: It's showtime gals. On your heels...err, toes.

Look through the following pages for our exclusive backstage pics!

Behind the lens and in front of it!

Image: Shamita Singha

Model Shamita Singha clicks a photograph and gets clicked in the bargain too! This pic of her by rediff photographer Rajesh Karkera made it as Lakme's Picture of the Day.